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Daily Bucket - Wall Doxey State Park, Mississippi [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-08-16
Wall Doxey State Park is 22 miles north of my home, and is a niche of wildlife delights. I arrived hoping to find some early migrating __ ? ? ? __ (fill in the blank). The reports by members here of animals coming and going in their areas, gave my adventure seeking urges a boost.
I parked down by the lake (a huge pond in reality) and got to the action in under a minute. A bird lit and scampered through the branches as I tried to focus the camera. This is the best photo I could get. I went through all my research materials to attempt an Id. I am sure it is a Vireo, but not one I’m familiar with.
I’m leaning toward a Bell’s Vireo;
instead of the unlikely Blue-headed Vireo — Vireo solitarius alticola (Appalachian subspecies)
but I can dream big and toward the exotic.
There are always dragonflies flying at Wall Doxey. I was able to catch a few while I was there. The first was easy to spot because it looked like a dark red bullet zooming overhead. It lit higher than I wanted so I wasn’t able to get the rich Ruby tones of it’s upper wings and body.
Carolina Saddlebags — Tramea carolina
Here is what my camera missed that Mark Swanson captured in Illinois 2017.
Isn’t this a delightful sight?
While I was strolling, I spotted this Eastern Wood Pewee on a twisted iron bird feeder.
A different species of dragonfly popped into view. The larger “Sky Pirates” will land occasionally (usually on a higher perch) to scan the horizons. This guy had been buzzing for mosquito most of the time I was near the pond.
Blue Dasher — Pachydiplax longpipennis
Another view (older photo).
Like birds, under wing and upper wing shots appear different to the observer.
Then a familiar customer slithered by. This is the head of a Speckled King Snake. It was in no hurry because there were no Summer intruders (human) around. I didn’t impede it’s leisurely progress.
The remaining 30 inches of this snake look just like it’s body.
Above the snake was this beauty. She had a pristine web large enough to catch a huge meal.
Yellow Garden Spider (aka Writing Spider) — Argiope aurantia
A wonderful surprise happened. I was walking toward the water release structure when I spotted a shape on the cover. I thought it was a Cotton Mouth Moccasin. I was wrong.
Northern Water Snake on 8 inch wide board.
The round pupils, lack of “pits” associated with venomous snakes and the more rounded head secures it’s non-toxic status. A smooth transition from head to body also indicates a non-venomous snake. Though the body markings resemble a Diamond-backed Water Snake, the shape of the head is not as pronounced a triangle as the Diamond-backed species.
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